Sisters in Arms: A Novel of the Daring Black Women Who Served During World War II

[This review was first published by me on my website. It reviews another writer’s novel, not one of mine.]This review is about the aura and overall special place in literature for this book and a little light on long lists of specifics. It is about why the reader needs to pick up a copy and experience the specifics of this wonderful novel for themselves. After reading the book many months ago, I messaged the author of SISTERS IN ARMS that I was planning to write a great review. It was my way of thanking her for creating such a good work. I’m no one important, but I know quality art. I write and paint, and my novels, which any reader of this review is probably not familiar with, are good and received well. You wouldn’t have seen or heard of them because they are not widely publicized or marketed. I’m too busy in my later years writing and painting. There’s much to do while I am still on the planet and less time to do it.I put off writing this review because I considered it so important that I wanted to get it right, . . to say things correctly. The book spoke to me so strongly, partly because of my interests in the setting, topic, and historical issues, that I needed to say the truth about the book and I wasn’t ready. This is a special novel that begged for my full understanding of why I liked it so much. This is such a special novel that I wish it were mine. But of course this needed to be written by Kaia Alderson. It is her book.What is important to say first about SISTERS IN ARMS is that many authors may wish they had written it. A book, a work of art like a painting, is one of the artist’s babies. And at the time written, it is the baby. Readers of this review should not mistake the tone of my comment; do not undervalue it. For a serious artist like me, who works in the same field as the creator of the work, in this case Kaia Alderson, the evaluation “I wish I had written this book” is one of the highest compliments we can make. It is a nod to another artist that you see them as someone to look up to, even if you think you are on a par with them in a general sense. Since we all have strong egos, that is saying a lot.SISTERS IN ARMS required someone closer to the women who lived the story in real life and whose heroic lives are echoed or reflected in this great work of fiction. This book required a certain, special, black woman author in my opinion. So, other writers like this white male Southern guy who is speaking here could not have created this, though I often write black female and male characters.I’ll go a step farther and say this book required Kaia Alderson in particular as the author. I do not know the writer, but novels and poems are personal, even when they are not about you the artist yourself, . . even when you are writing about something before your time . . from history. As finely crafted and delicately written as SISTERS IN ARMS is, it must have required the particular craftswoman who wrote it. This is a story from a sad part of the history of a great nation that required being told and made more publicly known, and Kaia is the one who took up the mantle and told it. She could not have chosen a better, more sadly neglected part of our history.She told it well. From page one until page three hundred seventy-two you feel the locations as if you are back there. She makes you suspend belief in your modern reality and feel you are there in a time with no cellphones or any other digital devices, where you have to find a phone to make a call, or be in a club or near a record player to enjoy music. This is “period fiction” Kaia is writing, and the reader has to get back to that period. Skillfully, Kaia Alderson gets you there. Her characters are believable people that you care about (with the depth to be believable). With whatever personal flaws or weaknesses each may have, they are positive people you want to know in real life. This is especially true of Kaia’s fictional main characters. And when that happens, when you want to meet a fictional character in reality, the author has done a stellar job.When you meet a book like this one and finish it, all you can do is sit down in your favorite spot at home or in your favorite special café or tavern, lean back with a mug or glass of your favorite nectar, look up and out, and tip the glass to the author, wherever she or he is, and sip. You can’t read for a while. You’re not yet done with this volume. You’ve only finished reading it.​Review by Robert F. Jackson, Jr.

This is a story about the Black female 6888th Postal Battalion that provided a great service to G.I.'s serving in England and France during World War II is only now becoming known. The unit sorted and distributed a most precious commodity: mail from their loved ones! Millions of pieces of mail -- packages and letters -- were haphazardly thrown into rooms within vacant factory rooms. The 855-soldier unit had to create a system to sort and organize the mail then send that mail to the correct person fighting in World War II in France or England. This extraordinary unit, the first Black unit sent overseas during the War, created the system and sorted in the mail within three weeks, using a three-shift process. In both countries cited, the 6888th's Postal Battalion's system worked and over seven million pieces of mail was sorted. Members of the unit suffered many indignities because of their race and gender. Few members were alive when the military finally decided to recognize the Battalion. When now Lt. Col. Charity Adams died her family's request that she be honored at the Arlington Cemetery was denied by the Army until the Army realized the Air Force agreed to do so because the Battalion served mail for all military units!

The concept of Black women joining the US army in the 1950s was a concept I never knew I needed! And it’s based on a true story!!! How was this left out of the history books? Maybe they quickly covered it that one time I dozed off in class?!This story follows Eliza and Grace - 2 young Black women eager to flee their overbearing families, and at an empasse in their professional lives - join the first Black battalion of the Women’s Army Corps, Six Triple Eight, overseas during WWII.I liked the main characters Eliza, fearless, with gumption, and Grace, level headed and determined. These women were bold, courageous and brave. They endured ongoing disrespect, physical assault, and discrimination and were expected to “protect and serve” without even being trained for war or having access to weapons. Their relationship blossomed into a sisterhood after their initial preconceived misjudgments.I loved how the story made me want to learn more, but I would’ve liked more character development from both characters. I also wanted more details of their time serving, the connections made with the other women, and how they rose in rank. An additional 50 pages would’ve been welcome to add more depth to the story.I’m not a big fan of historical fiction and I rarely ever read about stories surrounding a war, but the mixture of these genres here was phenomenal! And I appreciated a different spin on a story set against the war backdrop. I would LOVE to see this play out on the big screen or as a Netflix series. It would be perfect. I could see Megan Good in one of the roles!After I read this story, I felt a little deprived, ignorant, and hungry to know more Black history. I’d never even thought about or considered the history of Black women serving in the military. But, the book sparked a desire for me to enrich myself in more of these stories.I called my dad and we had an interesting conversation about this and other pivotal strides and I made a point to share this with my daughter, too. This significant history may not be taught in schools but we will be steadfast in educating ourselves.I also have to note that I was impressed with Shayna Small’s narration in this one.

Hadn't had a chance to review it.

Learning what my 6888 relatives endured